The Zoologist — Jur-v, 1866. 295 



TVJiite Wagtail. — May 5th, Observed this altevnoon a bird of this 

 species on the " fitties;" it is the only one I have seen this year. 



Golden Plover. — Put up a solitary bird in the marsh on the 14th. 



Swift. — Noticed the first swifts hawking over the marshes on the 

 14th, just seven days later than last season. The extraordinary back- 

 wardness of the spring and the bitter east winds appear to have driven 

 ihera away again, as 1 have seen none in their usual haunts during the 

 last fortnight. 



Blackbird. — Found a blackbird's nest to-day, May 14th, containing 

 three eggs, built in a most unusual situation, namely, amidst the rank 

 aquatic vegetation of a bog in our low grounds : the most conspicuous 

 plants in this spot are some sedges standing three to four feet above 

 the surface : the nest was placed in a slight cavity in the matted root 

 of one of these isolated sedge columns, and only elevated a few inches 

 above the wet and spongy ground, the long drooping wire stems of 

 the sedge completely concealing it from all but the most careful 

 search. I was looking at the time for a waterhen's nest, and by the 

 merest chance came upon the blackbird's nest, so carefully was it 

 concealed. The only trees or bushes in the immediate neiglibourhood 

 were a iew stunted alders. 



John Cokdeaux. 

 Great Cotes, Uleehy, Lincolnshire, 

 May 31, 1866. 



Ornithological Noteafrom the County Dublin. 

 By Harry Blake-Knox, Esq. 



(Continued from S. S. 227), 



January to June, 



Dates of the Singing of Birds for the Spring o/'1866, — Blue Tit 

 made the " sawset" note from the 13th of January, Missel Thrush, 

 from the 8th of January. Sky Lark, from the 19th of January, Song 

 Thrush, more frequently heard. Gold Crest, from the same datej im- 

 perfectly. Wren, from the 2 1st of January. Hedge Accentor, from 

 the 10th of February. Blackbird, same date. Chaffinch, sang from 

 the 21st of February ; made its breeding-notes, " wheep wheep," from 

 the 27th of March. Meadow Pipit, sang in the air from the 9th of 

 March ; made its breeding-note from the 27th of that month. Yellow 

 Bunting, March 9th. Common Bunting, April 3rd. Willow. Wren, 



